Definitions : 🕷️ scarlet : bright red / 🕷️ spider : generally speaking, spider symbolizes creativity and feminine energy.
On June 23, 2023, Doja Cat returns in all red, with the now number one single ‘ Attention ‘…
« Baby, if you like it / Just reach out and pet it / This one doesn’t bite / It doesn’t get aggressive / Show you how to touch it / Hold it like it’s precious / It don’t need your lovin’ / It just needs attention« , are the opening lyrics of the new track. It could hardly be more explicit. Some overly intrusive fans seem to be the target of this chorus, which at first reading just seems to be cute [the lyrics]. Now imagine yourself this scene : you’re in a pet shop with your parents and you see a cute puppy and while pointing at them enthusiastically, you shout: « That’s the one ! That’s the one I want ! » Your parents don’t seem too keen on your choice, but the sales consultant here knows just what words to use to get you to leave with the puppy you want. That’s when she starts talking directly to you, saying : « Sweetheart, if you like it, just reach out and pet it. This one doesn’t bite, it doesn’t get aggressive. Show you how to touch it. Hold it like it’s precious ». Now, addressing the parents: « It don’t need your lovin’, it just needs attention. ».
You understand it. From my point of view, some listeners/fans don’t seem to realize that an artist is first of all a free spirit. Doja Cat is a stage name. Amala is virtually mostly unknown to the general public at the moment. In my mini-scenario up here, the saleswoman plays the role of the record company. You (aka the child) play your own role, that of fan or simple listener, while the parents can be seen as the expected external validation (aka our followers, or relatives…). And of course, the caged pet is the artist we’re talking about. However, as with any forceful interaction, the roles can be reversed at any moment. The star needs the fans to push them to continue them work, motivate them and feed them ego, while the fans need the artist to be able to appreciate, criticize and consume them work, all this while feeling that they have the artist’s fate in the palm of their hands, which also strengthens the ego of the fans/listenners.
All this reminds me of the lord–bondsman dialectic. I won’t go into it here, but it’s an interesting philosophical idea of Hegel, which I strongly urge you to find out more about.
With the introduction of the single ‘Attention’ – which ironically happens to be the second-to-last track on the album – Doja Cat makes it clear that she’s had enough of being at the beck and call of all those fake fans and extremists. DONE with the glittery clouds of Planet Her. Now she’s bringing us down ten toes to earth with the album SCARLET. Five singles, three months and one day later, it finally sees the light of day.
17 tracks, 0 featuring & 57 minutes and 02 seconds, that’s what it took Doja Cat to say what she had to say. For those who don’t know, I’ve already written about her two years ago now, on the release of her previous album (a new tradition is establishing itself ?). See this one as a complement to my earlier statements. Because, as is often the case, when I talk about music, it’s not just about the album and its songs. I always push my thinking and analysis a little further, because I don’t write about people or subjects I’m not passionate about. Anyway, between June 2021 and September 2023, a lot happened between Doja Cat and her fans. And for the few of you who don’t have twitter (X), Instagram or Threads, don’t worry, Doja Cat talks about all this in her album. Particularly in the first two and last three songs.
She takes a 270° degree turn, for my pleasure. I had that feeling that not only would this new album be great, but that there’d come a time when she’d finally get fed up of doing songs like ‘Say So’ or ‘Kiss Me More’ (although for me, they’re great, no matter what she says), because according to Bakirah’s theorem (yes, yes, this theorem does exist), an extremely talented artist + a public with a sense of entitlement + a long-standing frustration + a creative work team talented AF, is bound to result in a grandiose and original artistic and human metamorphosis in the months or years that follow.
What I appreciated most, and still do in this new era, is that everything is so cleverly coordinated ! Scarlet has really used all the space available to get across her discontent and assert her art as well as her personality. From hacking into Doja’s official accounts to change the covers of her previous albums and e.p. into a red version, to using her own painting for the video clip of ‘Paint the Town Red’, to doing an hours-long YouTube live show in front of curious fans to celebrate the album’s official release countdown. For me, it’s amazing ! All this makes me respect Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, more.
I’m puppet, I’m a sheep, I’m a cash cow. I’m the fastest growing bitch on all your apps now. You are tired of me cause I’m on your ass now. You are mad at me cause I am all they slap now !
Copy this (Copy this), copy that (Copy that). Every bitch that is here copycat (Rawr). Copy the greats, that’s my number one strategy. But beware that you can’t copy stats.
DOES A CAT MOO OR MEOW ?
It’s a question in reference to various Doja songs and past projects. I found it comical to include it to also highlight one of her punchlines in ‘Demons’. And above all, to make the point that an artist doesn’t have to do what them audience wants them to do. So, do you think you have the right answer to that question? To tell you the truth, there isn’t one. At least not for what I’m trying to say in this specific article. Everyone is free to think what they like about Doja Cat. But it’s important to have your own free will and to think for and by yourself.
As she says it un the song, many of her haters, are people who have heard from others, that someone said that she said that, blah blah blah… Anyway ! You get the picture? To a certain extent, I can understand how difficult it may be for some people to pick a side (and stick to it) during a hate train. It can be hard to understand an artist sometimes especially when, on top of that them skilfully manages to outwit haters and extremists by standing up to backbiting. That’s enough to pinch an ego.
Who she really is ? Who is Doja Cat ? Maybe we’ll never really know, but as far as I’m concerned, my mind’s made up about all this a long time ago. For the misdeeds the twittosphere is currently accusing her of, I couldn’t cancel her even if I was paid to.
SCARLET
Did you pay attention to the definitions I gave above ? Yes ? Greate ! Because I don’t know about you, but I think Scarlet as a name for an alter ego that can take the form of a metaphoric red female spider, it is very stylish ! It’s feminine, creepy and sexy all at the same time.
Sadly for me, but fortunately for your ears, I don’t know how to sing. I have no albums to my credit. However, as you know, I love reading, writing and visual art. In particular, the seventh art. And without a doubt, the last 4 video clips of this era have really fulfilled me. And now ‘ Demons’ & ‘Agora Hills’ keep company to ‘Need to Know’ on the podium of my favorites Doja Cat video clips. These are wonderful and very eloquent pieces of work. To top it all off, her lastest performance at the VMAs had just the right amount of theatricality, dance and entertainment. Basically, everything I enjoy.
Scarlet, allows us to discover a bit more about Doja and the extent of her talents. And while I’m sure that 50% of her statements on her social networks are not to be taken at face value, she reveals herself there too.
Sometimes she even implicitly reveals herself. For example, I suspect her to be a fan of Stephen King. Why is that ? Scarlet who is covered in fake blood in the ‘ Attention ‘ video reminds me of Carrie. And the shot in the bathtub in the clip of ‘ Demons ‘ reminds me of the film Shinning.
album + songs reviews on next page.
BAKIRAH 
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